Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of St, Mary's Church, Grayson, Saskatchewan, Canada - St. Mary's Church (Grayson, Sask.)

FIFTY

GOLDEN

YEARS

Commemorating the

50th Anniversary

of the founding

of

St. Mary’s Church

Grayson, Saskatchewan
Canada

3o~

FIFTY

GOLDEN

YEARS

Commemorating the

50th Anniversary

of the founding

of

St. Mary’s Church

Grayson, Saskatchewan
Canada

His Holiness Pope Pius XII has graciously granted
his apostolic blessing to the pastor and parishioners
of Saint Mary’s Parish, Grayson, Saskatchewan

>MKMi

March 30, 1957.

Rev. B. Ueberberg, O.M.I.,

Grayson, Sask.

Dear Father Ueberberg:

The Golden Jubilee of the Parish of Our Lady of Good Help,
Grayson, is an occasion that calls for rejoicing. It spells out fifty years
of blessings that a loving Father has bestowed upon faithful children.

Coming into a strange land with strange customs, the original
members of this parish snared no effort and thought no sacrifice too
great to provide a suitable dwelling place for God. In so doing, they
knew that although far from their homeland they were still at home
with God. Their children have followed their example and the twin
spires of Grayson Church tell to all the story of a strong Catholic faith

and practice.

In extending my heartiest congratulations to you and your parish¬
ioners I must pay tribute to the pioneers whose sacrifices and gen¬
erosity prepared the way for the present generation. Nor can I over¬
look the priestly ministry of the Oblate Fathers whose devotion and
zeal over these years has been responsible for the development of a
parish and spirit that is second to none. In this work they have been
ably helped by the Ursuline Sisters and other teachers who have pro¬
vided for the Catholic education of the children. My prayerful wish
is that this Jubilee may be a source of many blessings to Pastor, Sis¬
ters and parishioners and may those who have faithfully served then
God over the span of fifty years have their names written in His
golden records.

t M.C. O’Neill

Archbishop of Regina

Page, six

Most Reverend Michael G. O’Neill, D.D.
Archbishop of Regina

Page seven

Foreward

A message to my parishioners on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee
of St. Mary’s parish of Grayson.

Dear Friends:

The most important thing for us to do on this Jubilee day is
to unite in prayer to give thanks to the eternal Father in heaven for
the many blessings we have received from Him during the past half
century. 1907 to 1957 were indeed 50 Golden Years. Thanks are due
also to the zealous priests and pioneers who laid the foundation of
the parish and developed it. The majority of them went to their etern¬
al reward and I am convinced their spirits are rejoicing with us today.

In compiling this Jubilee Souvenir booklet a greater portion of
space has been devoted to the earlier days. They have the air of ad¬
venture, while later happenings are more or less taken as a matter
of course. All historical facts were taken from “Golden Memories of
Grayson”, marvelously compiled by the Ursuline Sisters. We are
very grateful to the Reverend Sisters for allowing us to copy them.

I first heard of Grayson in 1912 in Regina when the Oblate Fathers
stationed at Grayson came there to make their monthly retreat. The
vivid description of the hardships of their missionary life, the poverty,
travelling inconveniences, inclement weather conditions etc. made
such a deep impression on me that I prayed one morning: Lord send
me anywhere but not to Grayson. It was a foolish prayer of a young
inexperienced priest who had arrived just a short while ago from
Europe.

I first saw Grayson soon after my appointment as Provincial of
the new St. Mary’s Province of the Oblate Fathers of which the Gray¬
son District forms an important part. It was in 1926, when I sent
Father Julius Seltmann O.M.I. to Grayson as parish priest with the
instruction to replace the small parish church with a new and larger
one. I knew Father Seltmann was the right man to do that difficult work.

I actually came to live among you in Grayson when my Superiors
appointed me pastor of your parish in September 1941. Besides my
priestly faculties I brought with me a whole bagful of goodness. I had
only one intention: to improve if possible, your spiritual happiness and
also the economical condition. During the first pastoral visit I noticed

Page eight

Rev. Bernard Ueberberg, Pastoi

that many of you were very poor. Your farms were covered with
heavy mortgages and only a few were owners of the land. I encour¬
aged you to place all your trust in divine providence, confidence in
the Mother of Christ and St. Joseph. God blessed us with very good
crops and spiritual gifts to such an extent that we were able to im¬
prove the parish and make it second to none in the Archdiocese of
Regina. Holy Communion increased from 6,000 to over 30,000. Thir¬
teen years I have now spent among you as your pastor, part of the
best years of my life. Your good will and cooperation have made these
years very happy ones and on the occasion of this Jubilee I wish to
extend to you my sincerest thanks. Sincere thanks also to the Reverend
Ursuline Sisters. Without their help I could not have accomplished
my work.

Now I am aging, but I hope and pray that God may grant me
health and strength to serve you as pastor for a few more years.

Yours very devotedly in Christ and Mary Immaculate

B. Ueberberg, O.M.I.

Page nine

St. Mary’s Church, Grayson, Saskatchewan

PART ONE

Spiritual Growth

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Justice,
and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Our ancestors were men and women of heroic mould, of industry
and of sacrifice, but above all they were men and women of faith —
the foundation of the whole spiritual structure. That “Faith of Our
Fathers known of old” had struck ineradicable roots in their hearts,
and was bound to be transplanted into the virgin soil for their new
Canadian homes. “To give to God the things that are God’s” — this
was ever their motto, the guiding principle of their lives. What a
sacrifice it must have been for them then to have had to forego these
spiritual consolations for want of Ministers of God, and a suitable
dwelling place for Him! It is to their credit that they dotted the
western prairies with beautiful churches and fervent communities.
The pioneers of the Grayson district were no exception.

Page ten

BEGINNINGS

The first church to be built in the Grayson district was at Maria¬
hilf, and thither the devout pioneers journeyed by stoneboat, ox-cart,
wagon, or, lacking these conveyances, on foot, to worship the God of
their hearts in His holy shrine. That was in the days before the rail¬
road — when there was no Grayson, no Killaly, no Neudorf. The entire
area was then under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of St. Boniface,
since the Archdiocese of Regina had not yet been founded. Back in
1900 it was ministered to by a secular priest, Reverend Father Holz-
hacker, better known as Father Woodcutter, then the Parish Priest
of Kaposvar, who visited the area about once a month to bring God
into the midst of this widely scattered flock. Other Representatives
of Christ who served the needs of our people about the turn of the
century were Reverend Fathers Bresson, Albert Kulawy, O.M.I., and
August Suffa, O.M.I.

GRAYSON CHOSEN AS CENTRE

In March, 1905, Rev. Father P. Magnan, O.M.I., Vicar of Missions,
proposed the erection of a centre from which Mariahilf and other
missions north of the Qu’Appelle Valley could be administered. As
the village of Grayson seemed almost centrally located, steps were
taken to secure an appropriate site in the village, and in the fall of
1905 twenty acres were purchased from the Canadian Pacific Rail¬
way Company for the purpose of building the “Mission of Mariahilf”.
During the first half of 1906 plans for a church and rectory were
designed, the necessary authorization obtained, and a building fund
established. With the first week of August, 1906, building operations
began, and the first day of May, 1907, dawned bright and clear on
the new mission at Grayson. On May 2, 1907, the Oblates of Mary
Immaculate took formal possession of the house, and on that day, the
feast of St. Athanasius, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated
for the first time in the new “Mission of Mariahilf”, Grayson.

St. Mary’s, the first church at Grayson, was a frame building,
40’ by 60’. The contractor was Mr. Fouly. It was heated by furnace
installed in the part-basement. The building cost approximately
$5,000.00 To secure the necessary funds a loan of $4,000 was made.
This loan was paid in full by 1918. Rev. M. J. Kasper, O.M.I., was
the first resident Parish Priest at St. Mary’s (“Mariahilf”). The first
Church Trustees were Mr. Mathias Gelowitz, Mr. John Stepan, and
Mr. Frank D. Flegel. Mr. George Lepinski was the first organist.

Page eleven

Rev. M. J. Kasper, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1902-1911

Rev. E. Hess, O.M.I.
Pastor — 1911-1915

The Fathers constituting the
new Community at Grayson were
the Rev. Father M. J. Kasper,
O.M.I., Superior, and Rev. Father
Johann Schulte, O.M.I. The fol¬
lowing day, May 3, they were
joined by Rev. Father Philip Fun-
ke, O.M.I. Rev. Father Kasper was
placed in charge of Mariahilf
mission, south of Killaly, and
Crooked Lake missions, while Fa¬
ther Schulte was destined for the
missions at Lemberg and Dysart,
and Father Funke for Killaly and
Wolfsheim. July 1, 1907, was a
happy day for the young com¬
munity, as it was the day on which
Rev. Father Provincial, P. Mag-
nan,O.M.I., paid them his first
visit. Though he departed the
very next day, it gave them gen¬
uine pleasure to have had his per¬
son in their midst.

July 18, 1907, marked the first
pastoral visit. His Grace, L. A.
Langevin, arrived by train from
Winnipeg, accompanied by his
youthful and gentlemanly secre¬
tary, Joseph Poitras, and Rev. F.
Kowalski, O.M.I. Immediately af¬
ter supper all these visitors left
for Crooked Lake Mission, about
ten miles south from here, in order
to assist at the closing exercises
of the annual retreat, which was
preached to the good Sisters of
St. Joseph (Motherhouse, St. Hya-
cinthe, P.Q.) by Rev. Father Za-
charias Lacasse, O.M.I.

July 21, 1907, the Feast of the
Most Holy Redeemer, witnessed
the solemn blessing of the new
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help, built at Grayson by Rev.
Father Kasper, O.M.I. The church
property had been bought by the
Missionary Oblates of Mary Im¬
maculate who were in charge of
Mariahilf (Holy Name of Jesus),

Page twelve

Lemberg (St. Michael), Killaly
(St. Elizabeth), and of the sur¬
rounding colonies of Germans
from Austria. After High Mass the
Sacrament of Confirmation was
administered, followed by the
Archbishop’s exhortations to the
people concerning the education
of their children in Catholic
schools and institutes, their obliga¬
tions towards the Church and
Priest, their duties in the social
and political order as Catholic
citizens and the importance of
supporting the Catholic Press.

On June 19, 1911, Rev, Father
E. Hess, O.M.I., was appointed Su¬
perior of the house at Grayson,
Rev. Father M. J. Kasper having
been named Parish Priest of Mel¬
ville, Saskatchewan. Rev. Father
Kasper was the founder of the
house at Grayson and for six years
bad been the director of the com¬
munity. When Rev. Father Hess
was nominated Superior, he re¬
ceived as assistants: Rev. Father
Leo Gabriel, first assistant, and
Rev. Father Joseph Riedinger,
second assistant. Other members
of the community were Rev. Fa¬
thers Philip Funke and Theo.
Joerissen. In August of the same
year Father Funke was recalled
to Regina, and the community was
thus reduced to four.

A FAR-FLUNG

MISSION TERRITORY

The missionary and pastoral
work entrusted to the Community
of Grayson was divided among
the Fathers in such a way as to
give each a full share of the plen¬
teous work in the harvest field
of our Lord. The following will
give us some idea of their far-
flung mission field:

Rev. -F. Riedinger, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1915-1919

Rev. P.X. Rapp, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1919, 1920-1925

Page thirteen

Rev. F. Plischke, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1919-1920

Rev. J. Sehnerch, O.M.T.

Pastor — 1925-1926

Rev. Father Hess was Parish
Priest of the colony of Mariahilf,
alternating between Grayson and
Killaly for Sunday services, and
having the assistance of one of
the other Fathers for the chapel
of the Holy Name of Jesus once
a month.

Rev. Father Gabriel was en¬
trusted with the care of Lemberg
and Southey, alternating between
the two places for Sunday serv¬
ices. Father Gabriel also visited
Earl Grey whenever his services
were required by the Catholic re¬
sidents of that colony. All told,
Father Gabriel looked after the
spiritual wants of about ninety
families. Rev. Joseph Riedinger
visited the colony of Kronsberg
twice a month, giving the other
two Sundays of the month to
Dysart and Holy Name of Jesus
alternately. Kronsberg was a co¬
lony of about 70 families, and
Dysart may have numbered 20
families. There was also a goodly
number of Ruthenians to the
north of Dysart within five or six
miles o.f the Church. But these
people never or hardly ever fre¬
quented the Dysart Church.

Once a month Rev. Theo. Joer-
issen visited Govan, an English
settlement, where there were
about 20 Catholic families in close
proximity. Once a month he serv¬
ed Cupar, about 15 Catholic fam¬
ilies, most of them of Irish descent.
Besides these two missions, Father
Joerissen once a month visited
Strasbourg, where there were
about 20 families scattered in the
country within six to ten miles;
now and then he also served
Bulyea (but mostly on week days),
where there were a few stragg¬
ling Catholics.

On May 1, 1912, His Lordship,

Page fourteen

Rt. Reverend Archbishop O. E.
Mathieu, the first bishop of the
new diocese of Regina, arrived at
Grayson to confer the Sacrament
of Confirmation on 180 children
of the parish of Mariahilf. On this
and subsequent visits His Grace
was almost lavish in his praise
and commendation of the fervor
and Catholicity manifested on all
sides.

Grayson lost a friend an coun¬
sellor when, on Sept, 12, 1912, Rev.
Father Riedinger left to take up
his duties as assistant and treas¬
urer of St. Joseph’s, Winnipeg.
His post was filled by Rev. Father
F. X. Rapp, O.M.I. About the mid¬
dle of October, 1913, Father Rapp
had to be relieved of his mission¬
ary labors to spend some time at
a sanatorium. During this short
interval his spiritual duties were
discharged by Rev. Father Gro-
chowski from Holy Ghost Parish,
Winnipeg.

Rev. .1. Seltmann, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1926-1936

URSULINE SISTERS FOR
GRAYSON

Meanwhile Father Riedinger had
returned to Grayson, and his first
concern on his return was to get
Religious as teachers into the par¬
ish. His efforts were crowned with
sucess. September 24, 1915, was a
“red-letter” day in the history of
Grayson, marking as it did the
coming of Ursuhne Sisters from
their motherhouse at Winnipeg.
On August 10, 1913, five valiant
women, Mothers Dominica, Am¬
brosia, Ignatia, Gabriela and
Alexia had left their motherhouse
at Schweidnitz, Silesia, Germany,
to take charge of a parish school

Rev. Jos. Schulte, O.M.I.

Pastor — 1936-1941

Page fifteen

Rev. H. Kelz, O.M.I.

Pastor. — 1947-1950

Rev. B. Ueberberg, O.M.T.

Pastor — 1941-1947,
1950 to the present

in Gregory, South Dakota, U.S.A.
As this establishment held no pro¬
mise for the future, the Sisters left
early in July, 1914, to take over
St. Joseph’s School at Winnipeg.
Here they united their forces with
those already there — Mother
Antonia Hebestreit from Dorsten,
Westphalia, two Sisters from Co¬
logne, Mother Angela and Mother
Clementia, and a lay sister, Sr.
Thekla. From time to time they
received additional recruits from
Germany. From this foundation
with Rev. Mother Igmatia as its
first Superior, went forth a little
band of courageous nuns to lay
the cornerstone of a new founda¬
tion at Grayson. Before accepting
the offer, Mother Ignatia, accom¬
panied by Mother Clementia, did
some preliminary scouting. In
Grayson at the time there was the
so-called “Mission-House”, the
headquarters of the Oblate Fa¬
thers. Since this house no longer
served its original purpose, Father
Riedinger offered it to the Sisters
under the condition that they
open a boarding school, and thus
help him in his pastorate. Further¬
more, they were to provide the
pastor with board and lodging.
This gracious offer was readily
accepted, and on October 24, 1915,
Mother Antonia Klar was sent to
Grayson for the instruction and
education of the boarders of both
sexes, some twelve to thirteen in
number. She was joined somewhat
later by Sister Cordula who con¬
ducted the household. When the
Catholic Separate School was
moved to its present site, Mother
Antonia was engaged as teacher
at the school.

Page sixteen

The first St. Mary’s Church at Grayson
1907 - 1929

In the course of the summer of 1916 an addition to the “Mission-
House” was built under the direction of Father Riedinger. It consisted
of basement which served as chapel and sacristy, a spacious class¬
room and dormitory on the main floor; yet another dormitory on the
second floor; thus providing accommodation for 40 to 50 children;
and off the kitchen a large refectory for the children. Up to this time
Father Riedinger in accordance with the agreement occupied a suite
in the Convent. In December 1918 he moved into the new rectory, the
present St. Bernard’s Convent.

When on February 5, 1919, the convent at Winnipeg was closed
down, all the Sisters who had resided there came to Grayson. The
following April Father Riedinger was transferred to Prelate, Saskat¬
chewan. He was accompanied thither by Mother dementia and Luit-
gardis, and Sister Thekla, with the intention of founding an independ¬
ent Convent there, which they did, and which is now a very flourish¬
ing Community.

Page seventeen

In November 1919 Father Rapp went to Europe to visit his relatives.
In the interim Father Plischke, O.M.I., took his place, having come to
Grayson in September 1919. Upon Father Rapp’s return in 1920, Fa¬
ther Plischke, who had won all hearts both at Grayson and Killaly,
was sent by his Superior to Regina where Father H. Boening, O.M.I.,
Pastor of St. Mary’s Church, needed his assistance. Henceforth Father
Rapp was alone in Grayson, conducting services at Killaly on alter¬
nate Sundays. When there was High Mass at Killaly, Grayson was
always favored with an early Mass with “Asperges me” and a short
sermon. In fine, Grayson was never without Mass on Sunday.

In the spring of 1921 the Reverend Ursuline Sisters opened a board¬
ing school at Grayson for the purpose of giving the children of this
parish as well as outsiders the opportunity of a good preparation for
First Holy Communion. Unfortunately poor crops and other adverse
conditions enabled but a few children to take advantage of this sterling
opportunity. At about the same time, with the permission of the
Archbishop, the Mission at Grayson was raised to the status of Moth-
erhouse and Novitiate of the Ursuline foundation in Canada with
Mother Ignatia as first Superior and Mistress of Novices.

FIRE!

In the Christmas week of 1921 the little chapel of Mariahilf,
about six miles south of Killaly burned down, and with it the first
House of God in this neighborhood, built by the German pioneers who
had settled round here in the nineties of the last century. First in¬
tended as a, rectory only, it was later converted into a chapel by ad¬
ding a sanctuary and a little sacristy. The sanctuary was of stone
and masonry, but the sacristy was only a rudely built shack, where
wind and rain played havoc.

March 29, 1923, the night from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday,
« brought the chronicle of the Grayson Convent to an abrupt and sad
end. With lightning rapidity a ravening fire destroyed the Mother-
house; nothing was left erect except the huge chimney which for al¬
most a week after pointed heavenward as a silent reminder of the
Giver of all good gifts. All efforts at extinguishing the fire, which had
begun at the most out-of-the-way place and in a most mysterious
manner, were futile. Thanks to the composure and presence of mind
of the good Sisters, no lives were lost. Within a few hours property
valued at about $10,000, the fruit of ten years of untiring labor, be¬
came the prey of flames. Instead of rebuilding at Grayson it was
decided to establish the motherhouse at Vibamk, and so terminated,
for the time being, the spiritual endeavours of the Ursulines at Grayson.

Father Rapp was succeeded by Father James Schnerch, O.M.I.,
who until September 1926 alone shouldered the heavy burden of ad¬
ministering the ever-growing parish and missions still including Killaly.
On September 3, 1926, Father J. Seltmann arrived from Spring Lake,
Alberta, to take over the pastoral care of St. Mary’s. On September

Page eighteen

20, Father Sehnerch left for the newly-founded St. Paul’s College
at Winnipeg, conducted by the Oblate Fathers. He was replaced by
Father Anton Hermann as curate of St. Mary’s and first Pastor of
Killaly.

1927 — SILVER JUBILEE OF THE TOWN

Grayson staged a Jubilee picnic and bazaar June 29, 1927. It was
indeed a day of festivity and rejoicing. The morning featured a solemn
High Mass, while the afternoon was given to merry-making of diverse
kinds. During the winter the women and young ladies of the Parish
had fashioned some exquisite articles, among which were veritable
masterpieces selling at extraordinary prices. Many donations, among
them a heifer and a ton of coal, were made. An outstanding feature
of the program was to be the afternoon parade of the school children,
but the “weather-man” decreed otherwise. A cloudburst of a quarter-
hour’s duration created havoc on the fair grounds, and might well
have cast a cloud of gloom over the entire enterprise had it not
been for the Gelowitz Band, which had been in attendance all day
striking up many a merry tune to revive spirits. Then as today there
was keen competition between Grayson Separate and Columbia
Schools, for, in spite of the rain the scheduled game between the two
schools was fought out to the credit of the former. Thanks to the zeal,
the organization and the relentless efforts of the Committee, the day
proved an unprecedented success. The evening, of course, was given
to tripping on the light fantastic toe.

This celebration was followed on July 3 by a Day of Thanksgiving
for all the graces and blessings of the past twenty-five years. At 10
o’clock there was a solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving at which Rev.
J. Seltmann delivered a masterful, heart-warming, patriotic sermon
in which he traced the growth of the Catholic Church in the West,
emphasizing the fact that the Oblate Fathers were the trail-blazers of
this vast prairie land west of the Red River. Giants among these heroes
were: Tache, Grandin, Langevin, Pascal, Lacombe. He concluded his
panegyric with these stirring words: “We, who are reaping the fruits
of these pioneers, are living under a Canadian flag, bearing the in¬
scription, ‘Peace, Unity and Justice.’ ” After the hymn of praise
“Holy God” and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament the whole con¬
gregation in parade wended its way to the St. Mary’s Park adjoining
the Church.

Headed by the standard bearers in white, the school children and
the band, all the citizens of Grayson in solemn procession approached
the open-air “Forum”. After “O Canada”, Mr. George M. Gelowitz,
Reeve, took the platform. First he read the congratulations of the
Governor-General, and the Premier of Canada. Then, in well-chosen
words, he pictured the development of agriculture in Canada. Amidst
tumultuous applause and a lively measure, he made his bow. Two
other speakers followed: Mr. McFarlane, C.P.R. Agent, who in bold

Page nineteen

strokes sketched the political and educational progress of Canada;
and Mr. J. Hubenig, Sr. a pioneer of Grayson, who humorously re¬
lated some of the experiences of his active life. Both were loudly ac¬
claimed. Now “The King” was intoned, and to the strains of martial
music the crowd dispersed.

NEW MISSION CHAPEL — out of the ashes of the old

As related previously, Mariahilf, the pioneer church of “our
prairies”, was destroyed by fire in 1921. Only mournful ruins were
the silent witnesses of the first House of God of our German pioneer
farmers. Although the residents had meanwhile become affiliated
with the Parish of Killaly, the loyal hearts could not long endure
the sad aspects of the ruins, which held so many dear memories for
them, and decided to rebuild the church, even if on a smaller scale.
A few feet from the Church lies the first cemetery, in which some
160 dear departed are awaiting the General Judgment. Thus the
newly erected Church serves as a memorial for our “dear dead”
and as a hallowed shrine. Although a simple, modest structure, the
new St. Mary’s Chapel of Mariahilf is a gem set in the woody, hilly
background. It was blessed by Rev. J. Seltmann on the Feast of the
Assumption, August 15, 1927. At the solemn High Mass the celebrant,
Rev. J. Seltmann, was to be assisted by Rev. F. Pander of Melville
as deacon, and Rev. J. Schwebius of Lemberg as subdeacon; but un¬
avoidable circumstances prevented both these Fathers from gracing
the solemnity with their benign presence. The celebration was con¬
cluded with a little picnic. A goodly number of Catholics from the
neighboring parishes of Killaly, Grayson, Melville, Neudorf and Lem¬
berg assisted at the ceremony.

During the same year the cemeteries at Grayson, Mariahilf and
Killaly received considerable attention to render them worthy rest¬
ing places for our deceased of blessed memory. At the expense of
much time, effort and sweat the undertaking was accomplished to the
satisfaction of all.

A NEW CHURCH FOR GRAYSON

On February 6, 1928, Rev. B. Ueberberg, Provincial of St. Mary’s
Province, Regina, made his first visitation at Grayson, finding every¬
thing in the best of order. Like Father J. Seltmann he bewailed the
fact that the Grayson church was much too small for the large con¬
gregation, and hoped Father Seltmann would soon find the means
to erect a spacious new church. Such, of course, had been Father’s
heart’s desire from the day of his arrival, but he hesitated to begin
building until an appreciable building fund had been established.
That the people of Grayson, both young and old, too' were most an¬
xious to see these hopes realized is attested by the following: on

Page twenty

February 7, Father Provincial had the singular privilege of being
guest of honor at a concert staged in Mr. Mayer’s Hall by the young
ladies and men of the parish to raise funds for the new church. It is
said the plays were so superbly rendered, they overshadowed any¬
thing of the kind Grayson had ever attempted before. Father Pro¬
vincial was exuberant in praise of the accomplishments of our young
people.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity and self-sacrifice, prospects ap¬
peared good, and by early 1929 arrangements were well under
way with architects, lumber companies, etc. The position of fore¬
man was leased to Mr. Barney Peterson of Earl Grey, while Father
himself acted as contractor. On May 10, 1929, began the excavation
of the basement, 40’ by 119’, and the hauling of gravel by local farm¬
ers, who did this work free of charge and with a glad good will.

Grayson again portrayed its true colors on June 6, 1927, in the
grandiose reception accorded the Rt. Rev. Bishop Charlebois, O.M.I.,
who had come to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation once again
after seven years. As it was an unusually large class, 170 in number,
the holy Sacrament was administered in the open air just outside
the Church. Thereupon the whole Congregation went in procession
to the new Church (in the making) where the Bishop blessed the
site and the foundation. In the evening there was a brilliant concert
in His Lordship’s honor, at the close of which Mr. George Gelowitz,
Reeve of the Grayson Municipality, in the name of all the parish¬
ioners read a beautifully illuminated Thanksgiving Address, to which
the Bishop replied in most cordial terms. The hall was again filled
to capacity as all wished to show their affection, reverence and de¬
votion to their spiritual leaders and guides.

DIFFICULTIES

The work on the new church continued during the summer
months but as the prospects for a good crop became ever more
doubtful, a nervous hesitation became visible, and some thought the
work should be halted. But what about the workers? Were they
to swell the numbers of the unemployed? No, the work had to be
continued. However, on November 6 it came to a dead halt for the
simple reason that the funds were exhausted. The basement was com¬
pleted, the heating system installed, and the rough framework and
roof erected and fortified against rain and snow. On December 8,
Rev. Thomas Schnerch, Provincial, blessed the basement of the new
Church. Henceforth Church services were held in it. Despite the
liberality of the people and the fact that they had sponsored many
an entertainment for the good of the Church during the summer and
fall, there remained a deficit of $1350, which had to be met by Jan¬
uary 1, 1930.

Since October 1929 the prices of farm products had been constantly
dropping. In 1930, we, too, were hit by the depression. Yet, despite
all obstacles, the building program inched ahead again. On August
2nd, Archbishop McGuigan blessed the cornerstone.

Page twenty-one

THE NEW ST. MARY’S IS BLESSED

His Grace, Archbishop McGuigan, arrived in Grayson late Tues¬
day night, July 5, 1932, motoring from Regina — then a long and
tiresome journey through the mud. Wednesday, July 6, he celebrated
a Pontifical High Mass, assisted by Fathers J. Seltmann and Carrier
as Deacons of Honour, Fathers Santha and Ehman as Deacon and
Subdeacon of the Mass, and Reverend Dr. P. F. Hughes, Rector of
Holy Rosary Cathedral, Regina, as Master of Ceremonies. Following
the Mass His Grace blessed the beautiful procathedral of Our Lady
of Perpetual Help, assisted by the visiting clergy. The Prelate con¬
gratulated priest and people on their accomplishment, recalling the
numerous graces received during twenty-five years of Divine Service
and love of God in this Parish. (The Parish celebrated the Silver
Jubilee of its foundation at the same time.) He urged them to be
steadfast in their traditions of loyal devotedness to the Church. In
the evening the guests and an immense crowd were treated to a
four act play, “Dust of the Earth”, in the pioneer church which had
previously (1929-30) been converted into St. Mary’s Hall. The au¬
dience was unanimous in pronouncing the play, with its pathos and
laughter, one of the best staged since the Parish hall was put into
commission. These entertainments were given on an average of one
a month, and undoubtedly did much to raise the cultural and morai
tone of the Parish. While providing clean, healthful recreation at
little cost, they were a source of revenue to help pay the debt on our
church — a very welcome asset in those hard times.

Under the heading: “Parish Hall at Grayson is Prey of Flames”,
the Leader Post of May 27, 1933, brought the following report: “Fire
of unknown origin completely destroyed the parish hall of St. Mary’s
Catholic Church here at 2 o’clock this morning. The fire brigade turned
out, but the fire h^d gained too much headway. Father Seltmann, the
parish priest, is absent at Winnipeg at present. Loss is about $5000,
partly covered by insurance.”

Already on July 3 began the excavation for the new Cecilia Hall.
With lightning rapidity the work progressed. By July the foundation
was completed, and the framework begun. October 2 witnessed the
formal opening, in the presence of a huge crowd — 500 to 600 —
the largest gathering in the history of Grayson 'according to the “old-
timers”. A four-act play, made a great hit with the audience.

Since Father Seltmann’s health was beginning to fail, his Superiors,
out of consideration gave him an assistant in the person of young
Father Joseph Hedt, who arrived in Grayson on September 4, 1934.
April 16, Father Seltmann had a bad attack which left him quite
weak. Upon advice of Rev. Father Provincial he was transported by
ambulance to Providence Hospital, Moose Jaw.

The doctor’s verdict pronounced Father J. Seltmann unable to
resume his pastoral duties, hence Rev. Father Provincial, Philip
Funke, in collaboration with the new Archbishop, P. J. Monahan,

Page twenty-two

entrusted the administration of St. Mary’s to Rev. Jos. Schulte, O.M.I.
the latter arrived at Grayson on September 7, 1936.

One of Father Schulte’s first deeds was the purchase of two statues
valued at $260.00 to fill two empty niches on the church front. February
1937 the statues of St. Boniface, Patron of Germany, and St. Donatus,
Patron against Lightning and Tempest, were installed. This was the
gift of the Young Ladies’ Sodality. Not do be outdone in generosity,
the C.Y.C. collected $250.00 for a second church bell.

THE URSULINES RETURN

Perhaps Father Schulte’s great¬
est accomplishment was to bring
the Ursulines back to Grayson. To¬
wards the end of August, 1938,
two Ursulines of Vibank, Sisters
Benediota and Philomena, arrived,
the former to succeed Miss Sadie
McFarlane in .the Junior Room of
the Grayson Separate School, the
latter to manage the household.
The following year, 1939, they
were joined by Mother Veronica
Rev. Fr. Jos. Schulte, O.M.I. with who took over the High School,
Sisters Benedicta and Philomena which was opened on August 24

of that year.

On September 12, 1941, Father Joseph Schulte left Grayson for his
new parish of St. Aloysius, Allan. He was succeeded by Rev. Bernard
Ueberberg, who, with the exception of a three-year term as Pro¬
vincial, has been our spiritual Father ever since. Father at once set
about the completion of the interior of Cecilia Hall which was done
with free labor and progressed so rapidly that by Easter Sunday the
“newly effected” hall could be opened in presence of a large crowd.

THE END OF A MORTGAGE

The year 1942 brought us a veritable bumper crop -— the best
within the memory of the pioneers. Father encouraged the people
to pay off the debt of somewhat over $5000 still resting on the church.
In thanksgiving to God for the bountiful harvest, they showed them¬
selves generous beyond measure so that by Christmas the necessary
funds had been raised. On December 28 a most unusual observance
which attracted some 600 spectators took place in Cecilia Hall, namely,
the cancellation and destruction of the mortgage on St. Mary’s Church.
This mortgage had been signed in 1931 by His Excellency, Archbishop
McGuigan, Father Joseph Seltmann, Pastor of Grayson, and the Trus-

Page twenty-three

tees, Messrs. John Stepan and John Hicke. To the latter fell the honor
of burning the mortgage in presence of the many visiting priests and
people. In the various addresses thanks were rendered to whomever
thanks were due: Father Ueberberg, who by word and example had
inspired this spirit of sacrifice; to Father Rapp who instituted the
building fund; to Father Seltrmann who directed the erection of the
building; to Father Schulte who concentrated on the interior decora¬
tion of the church, and the landscaping of the church grounds; and,
of course, to the people of the parish, especially the ladies who were
ever ready to “feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty.”

Relieved of the parish debt, pastor and flock could turn their minds
and means to the furnishing and beautification of our House of God,
and every succeeding year brought some improvement to enhance the
glory of God and the fervour of the faithful. Thus in 1943 a new
tabernacle and altar were installed. The tabernacle, the best that
money could procure, is hexagonal in shape with revolving door.
It is proof against both fire and theft. A master craftsman in Mon¬
treal embellished it with exquisite carvings of wheat and grapes, sym¬
bols of bread and wine. The fruit of an entire year’s labour, it is
admired as a masterpiece of art by visitors from near and far.

In 1944 the former rectory with adjoining property was sold to the
Ursuline Sisters to become the present St. Bernard’s Convent, and a
beautiful new rectory was erected on church property. In thanksgiv¬
ing for the blessing of an abundant crop, the people contributed most
generously to the support of the church, so that the parish income
surpassed the $10,000 mark.

THE GRAYSON SAVINGS AND CREDIT UNION

There is an organization in the parish which merits special men¬
tion. It, more than any other community undertaking, testifies to the
progressivness and cooperative spirit of the parishioners. It is the
Credit Union.

The Grayson Savings and Credit Union Limited is a Co-operative
Society. It was organized on April 11, 1944, in the Cecilia Hall.
Mr. A. C. Maclean from the Department of Co-operation and Co¬
operative Development outlined the operation, management, savings,
loans, and the duties of the Board of Directors, the Credit Committee,
and the Supervisory Committee of a Credit Union. On that day the
following officers were elected:

Hon. Pres. Rev. B. Ueberberg, O.M.I.

President Mr. Ted Klatt

Vice-President Mr. J. C. Graff
Directors Mr. Joe M. Rieger

Mr. Chris. Ruhr
Mr. John Hicke
Sec. Treas. Mr. George M. Gelowitz

Credit Committee Mr. Joe M. Exner
Mr. Chris. Appell
Mr. Jack Lichtenwald

Supervisory Committee

Mr. Charles Seibel
Mr. C. Ruhr
Mr. Donald Hrynewich

Page twenty-four

In the Grayson Savings and Credit Union Limited there are 255
registered members. Its total assets are approximately $35,000.00.
During the first decade of its existence it made 214 loans totalling
$68,000, and paid its shareholders in dividends $4,403.90. It has helped
many a family in distress and made it convenient for members to
practise systematic saving. A true example of cooperative community
spirit.

MORE RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

The year 1945 was highlighted by the installation of a fine modern
pipe organ in memory of Sgt. George Streisel, R.C.A.F., a son of the
parish. It was solemnly blessed on March 19, in the presence of all
the Clergy of the district and a capacity crowd. Rev. Father W.
Merx, O.M.I., of St. Mary’s Parish, Regina, preached the festive sermon.

In the year 1946 - 1947, the parishioners donated over $8,000.00 to
the new Oblate College at North Battleford, in gratitude for and ap¬
preciation of the splendid work the Oblate Fathers have rendered
for their spiritual welfare.

In 1948, Archbishop M. C. O’Neill of Regina paid his first visit to
Grayson, and raised ninety-eight of our children to the dignity of
soldiers of Christ.

In 1949 to 1950, a new furnace was installed in the church and
other important improvements were made.

In 1951, the power line came to Grayson. All buildings had to be
re-wired and new motors installed.

In 1953, an addition was made to Cecilia Hall in the form of a new
kitchen with modem equipment.

In 1954, Archbishop O’Neill again administered the holy Sacrament
of Confirmation, this time to a class of 102. If the number of people
approaching the Holy Table can be taken as a norm of the spiritual
growth of a parish, certainly Grayson stands second to none in this
respect. In the year of our Lord, 1954, the number of Holy Commun¬
ions received reached the startling figure of 31,000. Nor was this high
figure simply an accident, for in the ensuing years that number has
been maintained. In this jubilee year perhaps, thanks to the new
Communion fasting regulations of our wise, understanding Holy Fa¬
ther, the 31,000 mark may be considerably overreached.

THE CHOIR

People have come to refer to this community as the “musical vil¬
lage of Grayson”, and with good reason. Is it any wonder then that
St. Mary’s church has always enjoyed the rich fullness of a well-
trained mixed choir? Parishioners here have seemed always to realize

Page twenty-five

the beauty that good, devout song and music lend to the liturgy of
the Church — hence their love of church music.

For a period of forty years — from 1907 to 1947 — Mr. George M.
Gelowitz held the demanding and sometimes thankless position of
choir director. Upon retirement he was presented with a specially
documented papal blessing and a gold watch, the gift of grateful
parishioners. His son, Mr. E. J. Gelowitz, then took over in his father’s
footsteps and has directed the choir admirably for the past decade.

Nor must we forget the faithful organists who through the years
have lent their sizeable share to the choir’s accomplishments. As
stated previously, the first organist was Mr. George Lepinski. From
1922 to 1925 Mr. Matt Lepinski accompanied the choir, and from 1925
to 1955 (with the exception of some short periods of weeks when
Miss Mary Lepinski, the sister of George, played) the official organist
was Mrs. J. D. Flegel (nee Elizabeth Gelowitz), daughter of Mr.
George M. Gelowitz. St. Mary’s present organist is Miss Rita Rieger.

Thus for half a century St. Mary’s Parish has been blessed with a
fine choir, a choir meriting the thanks and appreciation of the con¬
gregation.

FIRST PRIESTS FROM GRAYSON PARISH

This jubilee year of our parish, 1957, will also witness the eleva¬
tion to the Holy Priesthood of two of Grayson’s native sons: Brothers
Adam Exner, O.M.I., and Wilfred Rieger, O.M.I. Brother Exner will
be ordained in Rome on July 7th, while the date for Brother Rieger’s
ordination is set for October 5, at St. Charles Scholastieate, Battleford.
It is well to consider and thank God for these blessings accruing to a
parish when two from within its midst take their places as dispensers
of God’s mercy. Pray and sacrifice that there be many more generous
young men to answer their Divine Master’s call. The harvest is in¬
deed great, and the laborers few.

“NEW LOOK”

People about to celebrate their golden jubilee naturally want
to look their best for the occasion — new clothes, a sparkling ap¬
pearance. Now, while St. Mary’s Churclh isn’t a person, it too has
donned a “new look” for the festive occasion, and for many years
to come. Devoutly simple, yet solidly beautiful new pews grace the
interior while the recently completed job if redecorating lends a
brighter, a more joyful note to the entire atmosphere.

STATISTICS

From the parish records of St. Mary’s church we have the fol¬
lowing statistics covering the period 1907 - 1957:

Baptisms: 2912; Marriages: 640; Deaths: 416.

Page twenty-six

CONCLUSION

Growth — spiritual and physical — in St. Mary’s Parish, Gray¬
son, has been anything but stagnant over the last half century. Let
us sincerely thank God for this. In adoring our Eucharistic Lord and
Saviour, in admitting our failings of the past, let us earnestly ask
Him to continue blessing our parish, to continue helping us grow,
not only in material things, but in things of the spirit as well, so
that “through Him and in Him and by Him, is to Thee, God the
Father Almighty, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory.”

AD MULTOS AT FELICISSIMOS ANNOS!

Present sanctuary and altar,
St. Mary’s Church

Page twenty-seven

PART TWO

L They Came

It was toward the turn of the century that the then Liberal
Government, with Sir Wilfred Laurier as helmsman, sent agents to
the Old World to make propaganda for Canada, and thus began a
wave of immigration unparalleled in the history of our country. Here
was a land of promise — deep, fertile soil, plenty of it, to be had
almost for the asking. Any male eighteen and over, and any widow
with children, could take up 160 acres of virgin soil by paying the
nominal fee of ten dollars, provided they promised to build a residence
on the land and to cultivate at least ten acres a year. After three
years the government granted deeds and title of ownership to those
who fulfilled these easy conditions. What an offer! Add to this the
fact that in the Old Country land was scarce, hence so expensive as
to be beyond the reach of the average citizen. Moreover, the practice
of compulsory military service in vogue in the militarized countries
of Europe at the time was odious to not a few. Under such circum¬
stances, is it any wonder that many of them decided to sell out what
small holdings they owned, and emigrate to Canada as long as there
was cheap land available and the offer held? And sell out they did.
With part of the returns they purchased such valuables as tools of
all kinds, kitchen utensils, stove plates and rings, dishes, clothes,
bedding, and occasionally even a Bohemian plow — in fine, anything
and everything they felt would stand them to the good once they
had taken up their homestead. Thus provided, they bade farwell to
their native land, in most cases never to see it again.

Page twenty-eight

1 89(i

The year 1896 witnessed the arrival of six families and two bache¬
lors from Gallicia, anid one family from Bukowina — a total of 44
souls — to constitute the “founding fathers”, so to say, of our com¬
munity. These were as follows:

John Bruch, 50, five children, Martin Schoenhoffer, 50 one child,

John Kletchko, 55, four children, Joseph Michalski, 25, single,

Stan Bulla, 40, three children, Adam Kunderman, 25, single,

Fred Mansiak, 40, four children John Hubenlg, 45, eight children,

Andreas Rogalski, 35, five children,

1897

1897 brought the following additions:

Heinrich Exner, 45, five children Anton Rieger, with one orphan
Anton Exner, 22, single Jakob Lichtenwald Sr., 23, single

Anton J. Flegel, 45, four children

1898

The following year seems to have been fruitful in settlers. It
greatly swelled the young growing community, bringing new life and
new activity. From early spring till late fall they kept sitreaming in
to found new homes.

Anton Exner, 40, four children Sebastian Hanoski, 53, five children
John Exner, 40, two children Anton Ludwar, 50, four children

Joseph G. Flegel, 45, six children Jakob Ruehr, 30, two children

Anton G. Flegel, 35, four children Joseph Rang, 40, four children

John Hornung, 50, six children Caspar Beutel, 50, six children
Joseph, Hornung, 25, single Jakob Dietrich, 40, four children

Frank Hornung, 23, single John Dietrich, 30, three children

Michael Hornung 20, single John Fuchs, 50, four children

John Holitzki, 40, six children George Fuchs, 30, four children .

John Novak, 40, six children Frank Fuchs. 25, two children

Heinrich Holitzki, 30, three children Jakob Ludwar, 45, four children
Adam Nestman, 30, three children John J. Flegel. 50, five children
Wilhelm Hanoski, 50, four children George Baer, 50, four children

1899

While 1899 witnessed a drop in the number of settlers, it, too,
brought its representatives in the following:

Joseph Schlechter, 46 Daniel Flegel, 55, five children

Michael Rieger, 55, four children Peter Rieger, 50, four children
(Father of Mrs. George M. Gelowitz) Frank D. Flegel, 20, single

Page twenty-nine

1900

The stream of immigrants continued as indicated below. We can¬
not vouch for the absolute accuracy of the year of arrival, the ages,
or the number of children. In a chronicle of this 'nature, errors are
bound to occur. “To err is human”. However, we trust that any sur¬
vivors who might see these annals will be indulgent and regard only
our good will, and as to the deceased, we have no fear of incurring
their just wrath.

Anton Ottenbreit, 40, four children Adam Hornung, 25, two children
Leonard Mayer, 35, four children George Lang, 25, single
Joseph Neuman, 35, four children Karl Lang, 28, single
Anton Rieger, 30, two children John Stepan, 35, four children
Joseph F. Flegel, 35, three children Andreas Bank, 45, five children
John L. Huber, 35, four children John Bank, 22, single
Eva Hartman, 55, widow, one child Frank Bank, 20, single
George Hartman, 25, single Robert Schultz, 35, two children

190 1

Adam Huber, 45, five children Mathias Huber, 50, four children

Emil Zaleski, 35, four children John Huber, 30, single

Mathias Gelowitz, 39, six children Michael Huber, 25, single
(Father of George M. Gelowitz) Karl Juri, 40, four children
Joseph Zimmer, 30, three children Heinrich Duczek, 35, four children

Isidore Zimmer 25, single John Duczek, 20, single

Karl Zimmer, 20, single

1902

Joseph Hieke, 45, five children Josepha Zimmer, 50,

John Hicke, 20, single widow with four children

Philip Hicke, 18, single Joseph Zimmer, 21, single

Isidore Riese, 35, four children Anton Zimmer, 19, single
Theodore Krull, 50 George Zimmer, 18, single

Peter Krull, 25, single Wenzel Appel, 35, four children

John Englad, 45, one child John Ruehr, 50, five children

Anton Exner, 30, two children Christian Ruehr, 18, single
Michael Exner, 23, single Anton Lenhard, 70, widower

Stephan Koslowski, 50, four children Alexander Lenhard, 35, two children
Emil Koslowski, 20, single George Lenhard, 30, single

Paul Stradecki, 38 five children Rosie Rieger, 60, widow
Ignace Stradecki, 70 Joseph Rieger, 35, two children

Wenzel, Stradecki, 35, two children Mathias Rieger, 22 single
John Zimmer, 30 Isidore Rieger, 20, single

Bernard Zimmer, 23, single

Page thirty

1903

George Zimmer, 35, four children
Nicholas Muntain, 30, two children
George Lazar, 50, two children
Alexander Lazar, 20, single
Michael Batza, 35, three children
Joseph Baumgartner, 50, 2 children

Michael Rieger, Jr., 30, two children
Anton Stradecki, 45, three children
Joseph Stradecki, 20, single
Karl Stradecki, 18, single
Ferdinand Stradecki, 16, single

1906

Frank Ottenbreit, 35, four children Jakob Kopetzki Jr., 22, single
Jakob Kopetzki, 45, three children

19 10

Wilhelm Joerissen, 30, single Joseph Wihlidal, 20, single

George Fialkofski, 45, four children

19 12

Anton Jakubowski, 40, four children George G. Gelowitz, 35, four children

19 13

Joseph K. Gelowitz, 16, single Andreas Joerissen, 55,

Joseph I. Hornung, 17 ; single Joseph Ottenkirchen, 35 single

19 17

Jakob Lichtenwald, 45, five children Jakob Lichtenwald Jr. 20. single

1918

Max von Amerungen, 35, 2 children Hans Wischormann, 30,

Karl Landschutz, 35, single widower with one child

The year 1928 brought Mr. Peter Streifel, 35, with three children
Though he could not be called an immigrant since he had previously
been residing at Fox Valley, nevertheless he deserves special mention
here. His sparkling wit and rollicking sense of humor is an invaluable
asset to our community.

As might be expected, almost all of these early settlers have passed
away, most of them in death, but some by moving to neighboring vil¬
lages or to more remote parts of the continent. Let it be mentioned
in passing that only five single persons and one married person re¬
turned to their homeland to stay, and they lived to regret the step.
A few have been spared us to this Jubilee, to tell their stirring tale
of adventure and endeavor.

Page thirty-one

THE NEW LAND

On arriving at Quebec or Halifax, the settlers were welcomed
by immigration officers who put them through the ordinary red tape.
Without any further delay they made the necessary preparations for
the second stage of the journey to their new home. To reduce cost
to a minimum, since ail had to count their pennies, (the total fare
was about $70.00 for adults and $35.00 for children over five —
this included board on the ship but not on the train) they purchased
a sufficient supply of edibles — bread, bacon, cheese, and, of course,
again a bountiful supply of garlic and that indispensable gallon of
grog. The more ambitious also secured German-Engiish dictionaries.
Thus fortified both in body and mind, they boarded special immi¬
grant trains westward bound. The men travelled in freight cars which
were loaded with their household effects. The women and children
came in colonist cars attached to the same train. Their destination:
Grenfell, Assiniboia, now Saskatchewan, this being the town nearest
to their goal.

The party including Mrs. Elizabeth Rieger and her husband, the
late Anton Rieger, had quite an experience. As they pulled out of
Halifax a gigantic forest fire was raging on either side of the track.
The billows of smoke converted day into night, while the heat was
so intense the glass penes became too hot to touch. Through these
pillars of smoke and flame the train raced at a frightening speed.

As they neared the prairies they had their first glimpse of the little
prairie gophers which sat up straight to watch the intruders, won¬
dering be they friend or foe. Even the coyotes paused in their lazy
lope across the prairie for a cursory glance. It was this train trip,
too, that presented them their first view of a glorious prairie sunset,
all, crimson and gold. Swiftly it changed. Ear to the west, behind the
rim of the flat earth, the round sun sank out of sight, and the dark
ness crept slowly over the land. At home darkness came early and
swiftly. Here the light faded into a long twilight.

This part of the journey lasted four days and four nights. At Gren¬
fell some were met by friends who had preceded them; others less
fortunate had to hire a livery team to take them to Mariahilf, a Post
Offce thirty miles north of Grenfell. In either case, the newcomers
almost immediately loaded their supplies on horse or ox-drawn wa¬
gons and set off on the last lap of their journey — and the most
arduous! The only roads were rough, winding prairie trails. Wet
weather made mudholes where the wagons sank to the axles. Fin¬
ally the weary travellers reached the site where their new homes
were to be.

Page thirty-two

II. They Saw

They saw! What did the earliest settlers see on their arrival?
No inhabitants of any kind — not even Red Men as these had moved
to better hunting grounds. Sixty percent of the area was bare prairie,
twetety percent bush, and twenty percent sloughs, one quarter filled
with water and the rest lush hay in summer. Stones of enormous size
were as numerous as if they had been seeded. Indeed, of one settler
it Was said in Regina that he would soon come back, as at Mariahilf
people had to crawl on hand and foot to cross the hills and stones.
But even the stones they put to good use. The bush supplied build¬
ing material for the first houses, bams, granaries, etc. The poles were
only two to three inches thick, and twelve to sixteen feet long. In
the valleys there was heavier bush, four to ten inches in diameter,
and twenty to thirty feet long. How different the face of the earth
appeared from the beautiful native land they had left behind! And
yet they tell us, especially those who arrived in late spring or early
summer, that everything looked so bright and fresh as if it had been
newly created. They loved the wide open spaces which gave them
a feeling of freedom and security. The birds sang more sweetly, the
sun shone more brilliantly, the flowers -bloomed more profusely, the
grass was greener, the sky was bluer, the animals were more frisky
— in fine, they felt they were being given a new lease on life.

III. They Conquered

After a day’s rest at a friend’s or relative’s they sallied forth
in search of a homestead. When they found a pleasant location, they
applied to the Registrar of the Land Title Office at Moosomin, in¬
cluding the fee of $10.00 and inscribing the number of the quarter
section they intended to call “mine”. If it was still free they got their
receipt and were happy — their search was over. Now they were to
oocupy the farm, but as yet only the adult men folk and the strong
girls fifteen years and over.

Page thirty-three

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

First the boundary lines of the section had to foe drawn, so as
not to build on another man’s farm or on the boundary line. At the
north-east corner of every section there was an iron post on which
was stamped the number of the section. The other three corner posts
were of wood. For their yard they selected elevated ground with a
bush to the north of it for shelter. Here they excavated a hole 24’
by 30’ or 40’, and five feet deep, made :a roof of poles placed close
together, thatched it with hay or straw, and finally covered it with
sod. This served as a provisional dwelling place for the family until
a more suitable place could be built.. Out of clay they made their
own kitchen range with a huge oven, for they specialized in home¬
made bread. For the top of the stove they used the plates and rings
they had brought from Austria. Now they were ready to fetch the
rest of the family to view the “palatial” living quarters. Primitive
as it was, to them it spelled “home”, .and they were content.

The furnishings were equally crude. The first beds were made of
poles. Four bedposts were driven into the ground, cross pieces nailed
to the posts at the head and foot ends. Then other poles were placed
lengthwise and fastened to the cross bars to serve as a “spring”.
Old sacks were filled with prairie hay and the mattresses were ready
to be placed on top of the “wooden springs”. Tables too were fash¬
ioned in much the same manner, but instead of poles; boards were
nailed to the cross pieces, and the table was ready for the housewife
to knead her dough. In the clay oven fire was made, using logs as fuel.
When the clay bricks were white-hot the embers were removed,
and the well-formed loaves shovedvim. Within am hour and a half the
bread was ready, and what bread it was! Far more palatable than
what we bake nowadays.

Next the “boss” went to buy a yoke of oxen or a team of horses,
a few pigs, poultry, and a cow or two to provide milk and cheese for
home Consumption and butter for the market. A yoke of oxen cost
from $150.00 to $175.00, a team of horses $250.00 to 1 $300.00; six-
week old pigs $2.50 to $3.00 a pair; hens 50C to 75? each. All this
was mostly bought on credit, or ten percent cash and ninety percent
credit.: The first year only about ten to twenty acres of land were
broken, as they still had to build the first permanent house.

NEW HOMES ON THE PRAIRIES

When a new family arrived, building a house was always the first
task. The few houses built of lumber were covered with tar paper
to keep out the cold. Those who lived in a wooded country built
houses of logs, with sod or thatched roofs. Many made their first homes
entirely of sod. These were always cheaper than wood houses, cooler
in summer and warmer in winter. In the case of the Grayson pioneers
the house was usually 14’ by 26’ or 32’, built with logs fashioned

Page thirty-jour

A typical pioneer home in the Grayson district
(Picture taken in 1912 at the home of Karl Zimmer)

and piled one on top of the other and fastened with wooden pegs one
inch in diameter and ten to twelve inches long. When the logs were
seasoned, it was plastered both inside and out. The plaster used for
this purpose was concocted by themselves in a most unique manner.
After excavating a sufficiently large hale they filled it with clayey soil
mixed with chaff. Over this they poured an amount of water. Then
the human mixing-machine was put to work. Sometimes they wore
rubber boots, but more often they went into it with their bare feet,
and worked the mixture until it was the desired consistency. Usually
it was “flavored” with a quantity of animal compost, and was then
ready for application. A second coat was given after the first was dry.
Finally it was whitewashed both inside and out. Blue corners or some
other form of trimming was added. In most cases the roof was of
sod. Only a few could afford shingle roofs.

These sod roofs were very heavy, and in at least one case on record
a great calamity might have befallen in consequence. This house¬
wife was preparing to bake bread. She had already kneaded the
dough and was about to farm the loaves when one of the corner posts
gave way under the heavy load. Down came the roof, and the good
woman was trapped under it with her head in the bread pan. For¬
tunately her husband who was working nearby, noticed the roofless
house and hastened to her rescue. Long after she bore the marks
of her adventure, and everyone eyed sod roofs with awe and suspicion.

Page thirty-five

PIONEER COOPERATION

THE “BEE”

All this was accomplished in an incredibly short time, of course
not by the one family working alone but through the organization of
a “bee”. Once the site for the new home had been chosen, all the
neighbors, usually sixteen to twenty in number, swarmed round to
lend a helping hand. These Austrians coming from a land of music
and melody, were extremely fond of singing, and so the work pro¬
gressed merrily in time to the music. This merriment was greatly
enhanced by liberal draughts, this time of Canadian nectar, of which
these bees could never get their fill. And as soon as the house was
habitable the family, like the chambered nautilus, entered the new
shell, leaving the old shelter for the livestock.

As money was scarce every able-bodied man, woman and child had
to help earn a living. Children eight years and over hired out to older
settlers at two to four dollars a month for herding cattle as there
were no fences in those days. At twelve they were expected to help
with the regular farm work. Men carted freight for their neighbors,
and in this way earned enough to tide over until they had wheat to
sell.

Food was simple but nourishing. Breakfast usually consisted of por¬
ridge and milk or coffee (eggs were as yet a luxury, though later on
when they began raising their own poultry these became a common
item of diet). The main meal was a sumptuous two-course affair —
soup followed by some form of wild meat. At lunch-time, potatoes,
milk, and cheese or wheatlets graced the table. For the first winter
two families usually bought and shared one pig of 200 pounds. The
following years they raised their own pigs, chickens, ducks, geese,
and also dairy cows to supply milk and cream. Meat was preserved
in salt brine. For the sake of variety the pioneers shot rabbits, prairie
chickens, wild ducks and geese. Wild fruit was abundant. People sel¬
dom made the long journey to town for groceries — they learned to
make the best of what they had.

GRAYSON GETS ITS NAME

One of the early decisions was the choice of a name for the bud¬
ding community. Just by whom it was selected and why, we have been
unable to ascertain, but we are told that at first our community was
called “Nieven”. Only when the C.P.R. came through was it renamed
after a construction contractor, Grayson, a name it has borne ever
since.

Transportation was quite a problem in those early days. The only
roads then were prairie trails, bad enough at any time but literally
impassable in wet weather. The nearest town, Grenfell, was some 30
to 35 miles to the southwest. To make the round-trip by ox-team
took all of two days. The use of horses shortened the time consider¬
ably. Ordinarily the trip was made but once a month to purchase the

Page thirty-six

absolutely necessary groceries — sugar, salt, porridge, yeast, tea and
coffee — but in havest-time it had to be covered once a week with
18 to' 20 two-bushel bags of wheat per load, selling at from 30C to 50<?
a bushel. The farmers gristed their own wheat for flour, wheatlets
and shorts.

On one occasion two farmers set out for Grenfell with a few bags
of wheat, some eggs and some butter intending to exchange these pro¬
ducts for the much-needed groceries. While crossing a certain hill
they called “snake hill” the sleigh upset, the bags of wheat burst open,
the eggs were scrambled, and the butter rolled in the snow. Needless
to say, they had to turn back without groceries. At another time, an¬
other farmer, Mr. Frank Dean, was returning from Grenfell to Ma-
riahilf. This was in the spring of the year after the heavy snows had
melted and streams were swollen torrents. As the bridge across the
Qu’Appelle Valley was under water, he couldn’t see it, missed the
bridge, and wavcn and horses went tumbling into the rushing waters.
Mr. Dean escaped with his life, but was poorer by a fine team of
horses.

ROSES AND THORNS

“Troubles never come single spy, buit in battalions!” Perhaps more
than anyone else, our pioneers experienced the truth of this saying,
In addition to the hardships we have already mentioned, such as
back-breaking labor, long hours, low wages, great distances to be
travelled often on foot, trackless wastes, lack of medical aid, etc.,
there were countless others, not the least among which was loneliness.
In the Mother Country whence they came the farmers lived in villages
or colonies, and farmed from there. Here they were scattered far and
wide over the seemingly endless prairie with the nearest neighbor
miles away. This was especially trying in winter when they were
sometimes snowbound for weeks on end. After all, man is by nature
gregarious, and to be thus isolated from his fellow humans cannot
but have a serious psychological effect. In fact, we are told that this
very loneliness was the cause of not a few cases of insanity on the
vast plains of the West.

HARSH CLIMATIC EXTREMES

Then there was the inclement weather. Accustomed as they were
to a placid climate, our extremes of climate must have cut them to the
quick. Winter brought not only the icey cold and nipping frost but
also those blinding blizzards which sometimes raged for a fortnight
without abatement. Snowbanks swirled up high enough to completely
bury their tiny shacks. Indeed it happened that others drove over
top of them without knowing there was someone living there. Great
was the distress of anyone trapped unprepared. Time and again cattle
starved to death, while the people suffered hunger and cold for want

Page thirty-seven

of food and fuel. Tunnels were dug, one from the house to the barn
and :a second to the well. Thus the early pioneers led subterranean lives
in hideouts or blackouts until the storm subsided, and they were able
to ascend to the air and the sun.

If winter was severe, summer wais no less so. New day after day
the scorching sun beat down relentlessly out of a cloudless sky. Under
the intense heat all life seemed to ebb away. But summer also brought
the hail and the searing winds, and above all the insect plagues, espe¬
cially the mosquitoes. These had absolutely no consideration for either
beast or man. To keep them from molesting the poor dumb animals
while at work, the farmers hung smudge-pots from the oxen’s necks
— small relief, but welcome just the same.

PRAIRIE FIRE

With the coming of autum the summer’s heat lessened, but then
there were the dangers of early frosts and the much-dreaded prairie
fires. Prairie fire! That was an alarm that roused everyone to action.
Tubs were filled with water and sacks dipped in. The farmers left their
work in the fields and rushed to the scene to plow furrows to serve
as a fireguard. The sky grew darker with every minute, and through
the billows of smoke you could see the red monster licking up every¬
thing in its path. Wild animals fled in terror, while overhead thousands
of birds screamed with the screaming wind. Men and women, ran
back and forth fighting that fire. The men went along the furrows
setting fire to the grass on the side away from the buildings and the
crops; the women followed with wet sacks beating at the flames that
tried to cross the furrow. These prairie fires were a yearly occurrence,
but thanks to their cooperation, the settlers usually gained the mastery
over them; occasionally, however, not before considerable damage had
been done, such as the demolition of hay, oat sheaves, granaries, and
the like. Always they left in their wake air that smelled scorched,
and a prairie burned naked and black, with threads of smoke rising
from it here and there, and ashes that blew on the wind.

CROP FAILURE

Closely associated with the weather conditions was another hazard,
namely that of crop failures. To see a fine standing crop, the fruit of
months of toil and sweat, wiped out in a few minutes by a pelting
hailstorm; or overnight by an early autumn frost; or withering from
day to day because of heat or lack of rain; or being devoured by grass¬
hoppers which came in such hordes as to obscure the sun; or being
drowned by excessive moisture — calamities such as these must have
been most disheartening, and would test the endurance of even the
most stout-hearted almost to the breaking point. Would that to offset
these obstacles they’d have had at least some of the amenities of life!
But even these were denied them. Everything was strange to them —

Page thirty-eight

the language, the customs, the laws. And to top it all off, they were
deprived even of the spiritual consolations of the Church, since the
visits of the priests were few and far between. But they had been
schooled well in that all-important life lesson of undaunted courage
and perseverance in the face of difficulties and discouragement. They
had come to do battle and did just that. These heroic men and women
would have considered it dishonorable to go about with downcast
mien and drooping shoulders as if “searching forever for their noble
fathers in the dust”. They screwed their courage to the sticking point
and triumphed. They conquered, make no mistake. They conquered
by dint of sheer courage and steadfast faith. ® ©

Page thirty-nine

PART THREE

Cultural Development

“You who have dreams in your hearts, if you act, they will come true."

In a sense the pioneers of the Grayson district were seers, vision¬
aries, entertaining dreams of better, happier days, not so much for
themselves as for their descendants. Sensing keenly the lack of an
education, and realizing its utmost importance, they soon turned to
the organizing of school districts to provide for their progeny the
educational opportunities which they so dearly prized but so sadly'
wanted.

GRAYSON PUBLIC SCHOOL

The first school district to be organized was the Grayson Public
School District, Number 1274, with Messrs. Hugh Smith, Jack C.
Stewart, and John M. Huber as the first Board of Trustees. Grayson
Public School was built in May, 1906. Hewn of “prairie stone”, it
measures 24’ by 36’. The original attendance was about thirty pupils
ranging from Grades One to Eight. Though the building still stands
and is in good condition — a tribute to the permanency of the build¬
er’s art — 'it has not been in operation since 1950 because of lack of
numbers.

GELOWITZ SCHOOL

The following year, 1907, two more school districts were organized.
Gelowitz School, named after Mr. Mathias Gelowitz, was built five
miles west and one mile north of Grayson. It is also a stone building,
28’ by 41’, built by Mr. Hauer, a skilled carpenter. The masonry was
done by Messrs. Kasper Beutel and George Bernhard. The first trus¬
tees were Messrs. Mathias Gelowitz, John Stepan, and George M.
Gelowitz. When this school opened in the fall of 1907, there were 35
pupils in attendance. The first teacher was Mr. Arthur Tapscott.

Page forty

FLEGEL SCHOOL

The other School built in 1907 was Flegel School situated nine
miles southwest of Grayson. It too is of stone. The first trustees were
Messrs. Daniel Flegel (whose name it bears), Adam Hornung and
Casper Schramm. Mr. Frank Pander (later the Rev.. Father Frank
Pander, who is at present living in retirement at Candiac) was the
first teacher in this school.

COLUMBIA SCHOOL

In 1911 Columbia School District was organized eight miles south
and one mile west of Grayson. Of frame construction, it had an orig¬
inal enrolment of forty pupils, and has had a rather heavy enrolment
ever since. The first trustees were Messrs. Wenzel Stradecki, Joseph
Rieger, and J. Damar. Rev. M. J. Kasper was the first secretary.

GRAYSON SEPARATE SCHOOL

The Grayson R.C. Separate School District, Number 4, was not
organized until 1913, and might not have come into being when it did,
had not the Catholic element in the Grayson Public School District
clung to the “Faith of their Fathers” as tenaciously as they did. Cher¬
ishing their Catholic Faith as the most priceless treasure bequeathed
to them, they wished to see it transplanted into the minds and hearts
of their offspring. As they were in the minority in the Public School,
they could not persuade the non-Catholic trustees to permit the im¬
parting of religious instructions in the school. Consequently, at the
cost of tremendous sacrifice to themselves, they requested and received
the permission to organize a Catholic Separate School District. As
this is the School District we are mainly concerned with here, it shall
be treated at greater length.

The Ottenhouse Roman Catholic Separate School District Number 4,
is in the Melville South Superintendency, which at present is under the
jurisdiction of Superintendent R. C. Moir. It was built on the S.W. !4
of Section 16, Township 20, Range 5, West of the 2nd Meridian, where
two acres of land for the purpose of a school site were purchased from
Mr. John Duczek. It was a one-room frame building, 24’ by 40’, hav¬
ing as first Board of Trustees Messrs. Anton Loster, Chairman, Chris¬
tian Ruhr, Secretary-Treasurer, and Isidore Riess, Trustee. The school
opened on March 15, 1914, with fifteen children in attendance. The
first teacher was Mr. Wenzel Holitzki.

On November 23, 1915, a special ratepayers’ meeting was called
for the purpose of taking a vote on the question of moving the Otten¬
house School from the location it had hitherto occupied to the two
acres to be purchased from the Oblate Fathers in the vicinity of the
Church. Of 27 votes cast, 26 favored the motion. Immediately the Se¬
cretary was instructed to notify the Department of Education of the
outcome of the plebiscite. The response was in accordance with their
expressed wish, and forthwith measures were taken towards its trans¬
fer to its present site: Lot 6, Block 17, in the village of Grayson.
This occurred in July, 1916.

Page forty-one

THE URSULINE SISTERS

A milestone in the history of Grayson was the coming to Grayson
in 1916 of the Ursuline Sisters from their Motherhouse in Winnipeg.
This event was treated more fully in connection with the Church
in the first chapter. At a meeting of the Board on February 22, 1916,
it was unanimously agreed to engage Rev. Mother Antonia, O.S.U.
(nee Agnes Klar) as teacher. At the same meeting a motion was
carried to request the Department of Education to change the name
of the District from Ottenhouse to Grayson Roman Catholic Separate.
In 1922 the Catholic Separate School was rebuilt, and one room, 40’
by 28’, with concrete foundation, full basement and cloakroom was
added.

DISASTER

On March 29, 1923, the home of the Ursuline Sisters was razed
to the ground by fire, thus ending for the time being their activities
in Grayson. True, the teaching sisters who were on the staff remained
at their posts until the close of that term, but were then recalled,
whereupon the education of the Grayson youth, at least for the next
few years, once again passed entirely into the hands of secular teachers.

A special meeting of the ratepayers was summoned on September
15, 1923, to decide the question of teaching Grade IX. The proposal
was unanimously endorsed.

NIGHT SCHOOL

A proof of the progressiveness and ambition of the citizens is the
fact that at a special meeting of the Board, Messrs. John Duczek, Chris¬
tian Ruhr, and Rev. Jas. Schnerch, O.M.I., it was proposed by Father
Jas. Schnerch to open night school for grown-ups.

THE URSULINES RETURN — A HIGH SCHOOL FOR GRAYSON

Thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Rev. Jos. Schulte, O.M.I.,
the Ursuline Sisters returned to Grayson in the fall of 1938 upon the
request of the local School Board. Rev. Mother Benedicta took over
the Junior Room, while Mr. H. J. Duczek continued in the Senior Room.

Up to this stage the people of Grayson who desired a higher edu¬
cation for their boys and girls had been compelled to send them to
neighboring high schools or colleges. However, by now they felt that
the time had come to open a local High School. Accordingly, com¬
munications began with the Ursulines at Vibank concerning a High
School teacher, and in the fall of 1939 a third room, the High School
Room, was opened in the old Co-op Store with Rev. Mother Veronica
as the first Principal.

As the enrolment was steadily increasing, the three rooms became
overcrowded, and the need for an addition to the school became im¬
minent. In 1946 - 47 an addition, 48’ by 40’, was constructed and par-

Page forty-two

Taken in the first classroom of the Grayson Roman
Catholic School. From left to right, front row to back:
Jack Weishaupt, Henry Duczek, Charlie Mann, John
Ruhr, Rill McFarlane, Sadie McFarlane, Sophie Beisig,
Marie Heinkel, Mary Ruhr

titioned into two rooms. One served as the High School, which was
transferred thither from the Co-op Store, the other was officially open¬
ed in the fall of 1947 as the fourth classroom.

By 1953 the congestion had again become disconcerting, and space
was required to catch the overflow. This time, however, the pressure
was relieved not by adding another annex but by erecting a separate
one-room frame building with full basement on the school grounds at
the cost of $9000. This brings the number of rooms in operation to five,
the staff consisting of four religious teachers and one layman, Mr.
H. J. Duczek.

EDUCATION FOR LIFE

So much for the material and intellectual growth and develop¬
ment, but education implies much more. Education is supposed to
develop character, to show the way to get the most out of life in the
right way. It is supposed to develop a strong sense of social and moral
responsibility in the scholar that will adequately fit him for the
exigencies of life. It is supposed to be a training in self-discipline, con¬
centration of the mind, and forceful application of the will. Our young

Page forty-three

people must not only be taught the required subject matter, and how
to apply this newly acquired knowledge in the pursuit of true happi¬
ness, but must also be taught what true happiness is, and where and
how if can be found. True education gives children resources that
will endure as long as life lasts. It will instil in them habits that will
help their character improve as life progresses. It will implant in
them attitudes that will make life more dignified and meaningful.

Needless to say, the accomplishment of these exalted aims requires
considerably more than a suitable building adequately furnished. First
and foremost among these requirements is capable and dedicated
teachers. Mindful of their serious responsibilities in matters educa¬
tional, the Boards have always striven to engage the very best teachers
available as models for their children, and these teachers have render¬
ed invaluable services to the district over the years. As we have seen
before, the Trustees always placed great emphasis on providing reli¬
gious instruction for their children. Besides the half hour daily devoted
to this duty, a two-week Religious Vacation School is conducted every
summer, which serves as an ideal preparation for the successive First
Communion and Confirmation classes.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS

Moreover, the development of a sense for the Good, the True,
and the Beautiful has always occupied a prominent place on our pro¬
gram of study. Such subjects as art, music and drama lend them¬
selves well to the accomplishment of this end. The annual Christmas
concert of musical and dramatic productions has always been an
eagerly anticipated event. In recent years, music festivals, drama
festivals, and oratorical contests have been inaugurated, and are stim¬
ulating keen interest and competition in these fields. Some plays that
have been presented with more than passing success are Joint Owners
in Spain, The Stolen Prince, Wings of Darkness, and The Dummy.
The last-named was especially well-received by the audience and
highly commended by the adjudicator. The annual Field and Track
Meet held on both a Local and a Superintendency basis tends to the
physical and social development of our children.

Convinced that “things seen are mightier' tl\an things heard”, to
provide audio-visual facilities, the Board purchased in 1951 a Victor
Projector and screen from General Film, Regina. The School also
boasts the possession of two radio-record players and one radio, which
enables all the classes to participate in the “Young Saskatchewan
Listen^” programs. All this reflects credit on the successive Boards
whose primary objective has ever been our advancement and well¬
being.

No one will deny that it is a colossal undertaking to instruct others
unto justice and learning, and so we wish to pay tribute here to the
men and women who had the courage to shoulder this stupendous
resporisibilatiy, and the foresight to carry the task through to success.
Our Sincere thanks to the teachers, past and present. ® '•

Page forty-four

Our Teachers

1914 -One Room - 1922

Mr. Wenzel Holitzki Miss Mary M. Campbell

Rev. Mother M. Antonia. O.S.U. Miss MacDonald

1922 - Two

Miss Annie T. Cameron

Miss Cecilia Beaton

Mr. J. C. Geis

Miss C. S. McFarlane

Rev. Mother M. B-enedicta, O.S.U.

Miss Evelyn G. B. Bracken

Miss Mary E. Dobesh

1939 - Three

Rev. Mother M. Benedicta, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Magdalene, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Augustine, O.S.U.
Mr. Henry J. Duczek

Rooms - 1939

Miss Anna Dobesh
Miss Mary M. Sheehan
Miss Helen M. Rankin
Miss Virginia MacLean
Mr. G. A. Passler
Mr. Henry J. Duczek

Rooms - 1947

Rev. Mother M. Canisia, O.S.U.

Rev. Mother M. Veronica, O.S.U.
Principal

1947 - Four Rooms - 1953

Rev. Mother M. Clara, O.S.U.

Rev. Mother M. Alphonse, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Magdalene, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Aloysia, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Francis, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Cecilia, O.S.U.

Rev. Mother M. Canisia, O.S.U,
Principal

Rev. Mother M. Theresa, O.S.U.
Principal

Mr. Henry J. Duczek

1953 - Five

Rev. Mother M. Agnes, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Alphonse, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Berchmana, O.S.U.
Rev. Mother M. Lucy, O.S.U.

Rooms - 1957

Rev. Mother M. Theresa, O.S.U.
Principal

Mr. Henry J. Duczek

Page jorty-five

PART FOUR

THE URSULINE SISTERS

This Golden Jubilee Souvenir booklet gives us an opportunity to ex¬
press our thanks and 'appreciation to (the Reverend Ursuline Sisters
for the splendid work they have done in helping to build up Grayson
parish. With a spirit of faith and sacrifice did they enlighten our chil¬
dren not only in secular knowledge but also with the truth of divine
revelation. The great numbers of graduates from Grayson Separate
School gratefully acknowledge the formation they have received from
them. The Sisters are also in charge of the singing and the prayers
the children say in common during the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Besides all this they take care of the Sacristy, the Altar and the
Sanctuary. If we find everything shining in the sanctuary and the
Altar beautifully decorated it is the work of the good Sisters. We
thank them for their devotion and magnanimity.

RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS FROM GRAYSON PARISH:

Gertrud Flegel, Sister Sabina O.S.B.; Magdalena Lepinski, Sister St.
Joseph O.S.B.; Mary Ruhr, Mother Teresita; Rose Ruhr, Mother Elva
(both are Loretto Sisters); Mary Stradecki, Mother M. Boniface O.S.B.;
Mathilda Kreiser, Sister Theresa of Our Lady of the Missions.

Six miles north of Grayson there lives the splendid Catholic family
of John Barilla who emigrated from Hungary. Five daughters from
this family have entered the sisterhood. This is so extraordinary that
we wish to mention their names in this Jubilee ^souvenir.

Juliana, Sister Juliana O.P.; Elizabeth, Sister John Evangelist O.P.;
Anna, Sister Mary Stephen O.P.; Helen, Sister Blonda, and Theresa,
Sister Rhoda (both are Sisters of Social Service).

Page forty-six

HONOUR ROLL

Sons of Grayson Who Served in the Armed Services

OUR DEAD

Streisel, George, Sgt. R.C.A.F.

Appel, Adam
Beisig, Jacob
Bogdan, George
Bogdan, John
Duczek, Henry
Exner, Adolf
Exner, Anton
Exner, George
Exner, William
Flegel, Adam
Flegel, Joseph
Flegel, William
Gyug, Alexander
Gyug, Joseph
Gelowitz, Anton
Gelowitz, Edward
Grechulk, Michael
Hameliuk, Nicholas
Hicke, John
Hicke, Michael
Hoedel, Lawrence

Hornung, August
Hornung, Daniel
Hornung, Joseph
Huber Jacob
Huber, Martin
Joerissen, Andrew
Kopetski, Jacob
Koslowski, Mathias
Kruppi, Alois
Kruppi, Daniel
Lang, Joseph
Lepinski, Adam
Lepinski, Paul
Lichtenwald, Otto
Lichtenwald, Wilfred
Materi, Edward
Michalski, Henry
M odh art, J acob
Neuman, Anton
Neuman, John
Ottenbreit, Adam

Ottenbreit, John
Ottenbreit, Michael
Rieger, Christian
Rieger, Charles
Ruhr, Anton
Ruhr, Frank
Ruhr, John
Ruhr, Mathew
Scheitel, John
Schlechter, Joseph
Stepan, George
Stepan, John
Stradeski, John
Stradeski, Joseph
Streisel, John
Weishaupt, Anton
Weishaupt, Isidore
Weishaupt, Jacob
Zimmer, Frank
Wihlidal, George
Zimmer, Isidore

God does not let Himself be outdone in generosity. Of those dear
ones we offered Him, He gave back to us all, save one. The people of
St. Mary’s Parish, Grayson, showed themselves generous to the ut¬
most, not only by sacrificing their sons but also by responding almost
lavishly whenever a call for charities came our way. In reward, God
lovingly watched over our young men, and restored them to our
hearts iand our homes, safe and unharmed. On their return a “Wel¬
come Home Banquet” was tendered them, at which an Honor Roll
was unveiled. As a thanksgiving offering and ait the same time a
memorial to George Streisel, a beautiful pipe organ was installed in
St. Mary’s Church. Thus did the people of Grayson show their love,
their undying loyalty, and their devotion to their country, their King
and their God! •

Page jorty-seven

The Marian Press, Battleford, Sask.